Retail theft is a part of the retail store business. The retailer’s of the past used to just except theft as a part of life. It is a fact that retail theft drives the cost of merchandisehigher. The key to dealing with shoplifting is controlling it to a level that is acceptable (if there is such a thing). So how do we make shoplifters think twice and go somewhere else? Clothing alarm systems!

When you start talking about clothing security it gets even trickier to catch the shoplifter because many clothing thieves wear the shoplifted item out of the store as if it were their own. The good news is that retail can fight back against this type of shoplifting.

Clothing alarm systems are simple for the retail stores and their employees to use. The systems are also powerful enough to stop the criminals while being cost effective. There are many useful features and benefits to using clothing alarm systems.

Here is how these systems work: Clothing alarm tags are attached to merchandise and the antennas at the doors detect the tag when the shoplifter tries to exit. This system sets off an audible and visual alarm which alerts the retail employees.

Keep in mind this is only one of a clothing security systems many advantages. Features, like people counters, analytics, alarm management are now available. These systems are designed for one thing: reducing shoplifting!

A clothing alarm system makes it easy on the good guys and hard for the bad guys. It is not unusual for a system to reduce shoplifting by 60% or more.

One of the best inventions to protect retail merchandise is the clothing alarm tag. These tags come in many forms but the basic concept is that a hard plastic tag is placed on a piece of clothing. The tag can only be removed by store personal at checkout.

Clothing alarm tags are normally used with an Electronic Article Surveillance System (EAS). If a shoplifter attempts to take the item out of the store it trips the alarm on the EAS system alerting store personnel.

There are also clothing alarm tags that contain vials of permanent ink or dye. This type of tag is called product denial. If the shoplifter attempts to remove the tag forcefully the pressurized vials break and spread ink on the item ruining it. These tags can be used with an EAS system.

Other clothing alarm tags have built in alarm sounders. They have an aircraft cable that can be looped through leather jackets or other expensive coats. If the shoplifter attempts to cut the cable or force the tag open the internal siren goes off. These tags can also be used with an EAS system.

What is involved in the installation of a clothing alarm? Well first we should review what the components are.

The primary compnents are antennas at entry and exit points, inside the store. They are usually about a foot and a half front to back, 5 feet tall or so and a couple inches thick.

These antennas will pick up tags that are either, hard tags or labels. Checkpoint security systems (pictured above) uses a radio frequency technology. The tags vibrate at a specific frequency that is picked up by the antennas when they get in range. This will set off the alarm notifying everyone there is an issue with merchandise heading out the door.

The Checkpoint tags that are hard tags are removable with a special device that is attached at the cash register. The labels are deactivated when processed through checkout via an under counter deactivation pad. Unlike other systems that require direct contact of product rubbing on the deactivation pad, Checkpoint Security Systems tags will deactivate within a 12 to 17″ field above the counter. This is because it is not a magnetic system. Magnetic systems are the older technology which can damage credit cards and cell phones.

Installing a clothing alarm will deter would be shoplifters from entering your store and they will simply move on to another location that is unprotected.